Television Production INSTRUCTOR:
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OFFICE HOURS: COURSE OBJECTIVES: Through assigned readings, the viewing numerous videos, and the completion of a series of video assignments, you are expected to acquire a thorough understanding of the basic elements of video production. This understanding should include the following ten areas: 1. General audio and sound micing techniques, including the handling of common audio problems. 2. Camera placement and operations, including a basic understanding of camera color balancing, camera optics, light levels and the use of special filters. 3. The use and characteristics of the various video and audio recording media. 4. Lighting techniques, including existing light, bounced light and three-point lighting. 5. Technical and production differences between standard definition (SDTV) and HDTV/DTV production. 6. Elements of effective visual composition. 7. Editing techniques: assembly and insert, on-line and off-line, linear and random access, and the use of time-code. 8. The advantages and disadvantages of analog and digital data. 9. A general understanding of postproduction, including associated audio and video equipment. 10. The ability to critique the strengths and weakness of video productions. Probably most important, the course will provide an opportunity for you to create a variety of video productions, allowing you to express personal creativity while developing the ability to conceptualize story ideas and effectively translate these ideas into video productions. TEXTBOOK:  Television Production by Ron Whittaker at CyberCollege.com, Cybercollege.org, InternetCampus.com, and InternetCampus.org, available in English, Spanish and Portuguese
E-MAIL AND THE INTERNET Computer competency is a requirement for this major. It's also a key element in professional success and a requirement for today's most desirable jobs. A personal e-mail address is required for this course. If you do not already have an e-mail address, get one immediately. I will ask you for it in about a week. Course information will be regularly sent by e-mail. There are many advantages to having an Internet e-mail account, as opposed to just a college e-mail account — for example, it's permanent, you can access it from anywhere in the world, and you can take it with you leave College. This link has all the details on that. With hundreds of millions of people worldwide on the Internet at any one time, the demand is ahead of resources — which slows down things at certain times of the day. Internet problems will not be an excuse for not reading assignments. Start early and then if you hit a bad time you can come back later. EXAMINATIONS There are interactive tests on the Internet that cover the TV Production modules and the hyperlinked articles. Your instructor will tell you which readings are required, according to the four color codes. Yellow , Blue, Red, and Green Readings A green square (  ) in front of a link indicates information that's important to what is being discussed. This information is covered in the interactive tests and puzzles. A little yellow square (  ) in front of links indicates background reading. This material is not included on the interactive tests, but may be required for classroom tests. A blue square (  ) indicates technical information. This type of information is designed for advanced classes and professionals, and, again, this may or may be required by your instructor. A red square (  ) indicates external links that have related information. This information is not included on the interactive tests, but your instructor has the option of asking that you read this information. CyberCollege and the InternetCampus have no control over the content or availability of these external links.
Links that are not marked with a colored square are considered self-explanatory. Your instructor will tell you which linked articles you should read along with the modules. BEING LATE FOR/MISSING CLASSES 
For reasons that I will explain in class, I will often given beginning of the period quizzes that last about 90 seconds. Be advised that if a beginning-of-the period quiz is given during a class session, it can't be made up. And again, you are responsible for finding out what went on—including any assignments that were made—while you were gone. POLICY ON LATE PAPERS AND ASSIGNMENTS Meeting deadlines is central to broadcasting and telecommunications — if you want to keep your job. Therefore, in this course deadlines on papers and assignments will be absolute. Your grade will drop a full letter grade for every 5 minutes your paper is late! After the class is over your paper won't be accepted. Don't bother to argue about it or explain why you should be an exception to the rule. Each semester someone tries to argue their way into having their late paper accepted. If you blow a deadline, at least be adult and professional about it and don't try to convince me that your case is special. Either hand in your papers early and save yourself much worry, or wait until the last minute and take a major gamble. Each semester several people lose that gamble.  If you want to hand in papers early and I'm not in my office, bring then by the division office and make sure the administrative assistant puts the date, time and her initials on your paper.
By the way, it's always a good idea to have a photocopy (or computer disk copy) of any college assignment. Things can happen. Remember, spelling, punctuation and grammar all count in written work. If you miss a class you are responsible to find out what happened and for any material that was assigned during the session you missed. GRADING The final grade in the course will be based on: - Tests, quizzes and written work = approximately 50% of grade.
- Assignments and critiques = approximately 35% of grade.
- Class attendance and participation = approximately 15% of grade.
Because the course is not graded on any curve (i.e., you are not competing with each other) it will be much to your benefit to form study groups and provide basic production assistance to other class members. The criteria for the final grade in the course is as follows: A = outstanding work; a 90% or above average on tests and written material; a demonstration of excellent production and editing skills; an ability to effectively critique the strengths and weakness of other projects; all work turned in on time. B = an 80% average on tests and written material; an ability to meet deadlines; a proven ability in production and editing; strong critiques. C = a 70% average on tests and written material; an ability to meet most deadlines and an acceptable grasp of editing and production techniques; a basic knowledge of basic critique elements. D = a 60% average on tests and written material; however, student has fallen short in one or more major areas: meeting deadlines, an understanding of editing equipment and decisions, critiques, or the ability to effectively use production or editing equipment. F = below a 60% average on tests and written material; student has fallen below the minimally acceptable requirements for the course. I = although the student is passing the course at the time he or she requests an incomplete, something has arisen that is beyond his or her control, making it impossible to finish the course. To receive an "I" the student must fill out a form that describes the problem and establishes a time for the course work to be made up. This grade is only given if the student is doing well in the course, an emergency beyond the control of the student comes up, and an incomplete form is filled out.
TECHNICAL PROBLEMS Problems with video and audio equipment are a fact of life in any broadcast or video production facility. However, "technical problems" are actually often "operator problems." If you encounter a significant technical problem in completing your assignment, you will need to indicate this by writing out a malfunction report. (See sample later in this syllabus.) When the video is shown to the class, it will be determined if the nature of the problem was (1) totally beyond your control, (2) the result of not fully understanding the equipment or its operation, or (3) potentially salvageable by employing a simple alternate approach. Most camcorder problems can be discovered by doing a short audio and video check before leaving the equipment checkout area. This also protects you. Because you are responsible for equipment, this procedure will uncover problems for which you might otherwise have been held responsible. EQUIPMENT RESPONSIBILITY When you check out equipment you are legally responsible for that equipment until you turn it back in. Considering the cost of this equipment, you will not want to loan it to a fellow classmate or leave it in a place that has questionable security. (The latter might even include your dorm, apartment, or car.) If you have camcorder of your own, you are invited to use it. With large classes this will save you problems in checking out university equipment.
PRODUCTION ASSIGNMENTS  1. CAMPUS STORY. Take any aspect of campus life you want to tell a story about and develop a well-thought-out video piece. Edit in the camera. Sound will be from an audiocassette or CD of your choice that you will bring to class with your videotape. (Length: open.) Before you start work write out a complete script. This is to be turned in with your video. Don't worry about minor differences between your script and your final video. NOTE: you will not need to turn any more scripts in for projects until you do the dramatic piece (#4 below).
2. PERSON AT WORK. Illustrate on tape the relationship between a person and a job (a real vocation or avocation, not a fantasy occupation). Tell a complete story of the person-job interaction through the use of establishing shots, closeups, ECUs, etc. After we finish seeing your piece, we should feel we know the person, know what they do (their complete job), and know how they relate to their job (including people they work with). Sound for this assignment will be a selection of music of your choice. It is assumed that you will try to relate sound and video in this edited piece. 3. MOOD PIECE. Through subjective video techniques, establish a basic mood (tranquility, anxiety, reverence, anger, patriotism, or whatever) through your selection of subject matter and the use of camera angles and lighting techniques. Communicate this basically subjective feeling or concept. You may use ambient sound, prerecorded music, or a combination of both. 4. MINI-DRAMA. Do a short (approximately two minute) dramatic scene with two or more actors. This piece must include at least six, sequential, A-B dialogue sound edits. Use a variety of shots keeping in mind the techniques of single-camera production described in the text. Particular emphasis will be placed on editing and smooth audio edits. Additional information is provided below. 5. EXTRA CREDIT. (Optional.) Make an ethical, moral, spiritual or humanitarian statement. Time: EXACTLY 30-seconds. Assume a sophisticated audience. (Don't make it too much "on the nose.") Further instructions will be given in class. This project will have to be of very high caliber to receive extra credit. More information on these assignments can be found in the project.htm file.
PRODUCTION ASSIGNMENT PERSONAL REPORT NAME:_______________________ DATE:_____________________ ASSIGNMENT (circle one): Campus Story, Person at Work, Mood Piece, Dramatic Scene. THESIS SENTENCE: This video piece was intended to: (One sentence only.) _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ NOTES TO INSTRUCTOR: (Special problems; things I wouldn't do again; things I especially liked about this piece, etc.) _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ Note: Place this sheet inside your tape case before handing it in. Your video will not be shown or evaluated without this sheet.
PRODUCTION ASSIGNMENT CRITIQUE Your name: ____________________________________(will be kept confidential) Assignment completed by: _______________________________ VIDEO QUALITY/TECHNIQUE (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (EXCELLENT) _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________ AUDIO QUALITY/TECHNIQUE (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (EXCELLENT) ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ CREATIVITY (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (EXCELLENT) ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ OVERALL RATING (poor) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (EXCELLENT) ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Note: Be specific as possible in your comments. Keep in mind that a talent that you are expected to develop in this course is an ability to effectively describe (using the proper terms) the strengths and weakness of videos.
Final Video Assignment The primary purpose of the "dramatic scene" assignment is to see that you can edit together at least six successive audio segments of spoken dialogue. It is assumed that each edit will represent a shift from one person's dialogue to the words of another person within the same basic scene. Although this is a dramatic segment and not a question-and-answer interview piece, the editing principles are somewhat the same. It also not a multiple-camera studio exercise. You are to use the single-camera, film-style approach to doing the assignment. After shooting the people in the scene from the appropriate (read: best) angles with audio, you will then edit together the most appropriate takes to make continuous (smooth) segments. The focus will be on smooth (unnoticed) audio edits. This isn't an easy task. Background noise, differences in mic distance, etc., will complicate things. Start on this assignment early! You will need to write (type) out a full script for this in a proper film-style or video format. This will be handed in for a grade. Use the dramatic format in the text. The length of time is open. I assume it will be 60-seconds or more. As you edit, watch audio timing. During speech we have normal pauses—especially when you switch from one person to another. Make sure that the timing in the edited piece sounds natural. You may use background music if you like. Don't use the camera's built-in mic; select lav, handheld, or dynamic mics.
Equipment Problem Report 
(Note: this sheet must be turned into your instructor before an "equipment problem" will be accepted as an excuse for problems with a video assignment.) DATE: __________________________ EQUIPMENT: 1. Camera/recorder unit number: ______ 2. Editor number: __________ 3. Tripod number: ___________ Other: __________________________ NATURE OF PROBLEM (Be specific.) _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ Your name: ________________________________________
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